Needle on Record

What’s it been like to have collaborated with such a strong, deep, and diversified arsenal of featured artists on your songs?
It was such a rewarding experience to have people that I respect so much singing with me. It was always the plan to have lots of collaborations on this record. I had done my first two EPs in total solitude with no outside help pretty much, so it was a very different vibe having all the guests on there, and I’m glad that you call them diverse, because I hate the notion of being constrained to any one genre so to have people from all corners of the musical spectrum was very important.

How would you describe the reception of your music to your home stomping grounds in the UK as opposed to the US…and how much bigger can the electro-synth-pop revolution grow?
I think that I get a better reception in the US and I think there is a general excitement for the kind of music that I’m doing in the States where in the UK if you don’t have a guitar you are kind of an outcast straight away. I think it’s something to do with the strong history of dance music – people assume that because I’m an electronic musician that I fit into the dance scene, which is not the case at all. All this stuff goes around in cycles though – Electronic music is in the forefront right now, and long may it stay!

When I listen to your music I tend to squint my face in a flex, bobble my head a bit, and air vocal some unbeknownst lyrics (more just some variations of ooos and ahhs)…what is this that I’m experiencing…what type of overarching feeling do you try and send with your music?
I like your description very much – that’s kind of ideal! I just write what come naturally though, and I don’t think I tend to think too much about what I want to convey. Over-thinking is a dangerous thing. There are certain songs that I try very hard to make people dance to – and that is not an easy thing to pin down. Some beats just make you want to move, and i have never really worked out what the secret to that is!

On a similar note, is it also appropriate or even encouraged to to pretend I’m in Miami Vice while I listen to your music?
Completely appropriate! But I think i would rather you pretend you are in Knight Rider cruising in ‘KIT’.

What’s on the docket for this coming spring/summer, are you hitting any festival circuits?
Doing some festivals around Europe mostly. Making another trip to New York in June too. Other than that I’m going to do a lot of writing. I work better in the summer when the days are long and the nights are short.